Page 52 of Third Time Lucky

LUCY

A chaotic mound of dresses lay scattered on the floor, a testament to my failed attempts at finding the perfect outfit.

I let out an exasperated sigh and begin rummaging through my closet, yanking out any dress that catches my eye.

I feel like a princess trying to choose her royal attire for a grand ball – with my new prince.

‘Can I come in, darling?’ Mitzi asks, gently knocking on my door and peeking inside.

I open the door and her eyes immediately land on the pile of clothing by my feet.

‘Wardrobe troubles?’ she asks sympathetically.

‘Nothing is perfect,’ I sigh.

‘I know that feeling all too well; it seems to run in the family. Back in my day, there were no walk-in closets, so I had to turn a spare bedroom into one. Whenever I threw a party, nothing in my wardrobe felt just right, so I would always go out and buy something new. Looking back now, I wish I had kept those items for you.’

‘Considering you are the queen of parties, any suggestions?’

‘I think I can help,’ she says, walking back into the hallway and returning with a dress bag. ‘Why don’t you try this on?’ she says, handing me the bag.

I can’t help but hold back my excitement as she hands me the dress. She has impeccable taste, and I’m sure it will be stunning.

‘Please don’t tell me a ten-thousand-dollar diamond-studded cocktail dress is inside.’

She grins guiltily. ‘I didn’t go overboard; this one was only three digits. It’s simple, elegant and has no connection to any past relationships. Perfect for brand-new love.’

‘Were you ever in love, Mitzi?’

‘Do you think I was a dinosaur?’

‘No,’ I say as I unzip the bag. ‘I’ve just never heard the story if you were.’ I take a deep breath as the dress falls out of the zipper. ‘This is stunning.’

It’s a simple yet elegant black mesh midi dress with a fitted silhouette.

The flesh-colored lining adds an element of intrigue, stopping mid-thigh and giving the illusion of being naked underneath (something Ash will surely appreciate).

The dress features a sweetheart neckline with ruching down to the mid-calf on one side and a wide slit stopping just below my hip on the other.

‘Try it on,’ Mitzi insists, sitting on my bed as I enter the closet to put it on. ‘And yes, I was in love in 1975.’

I peek out of the closet, suddenly interested. ‘Dad’s dad?’

‘Lord no,’ she says. ‘A man named Jesse. Oh, he was wonderful. Tall, dark, handsome, polite, employed – all the things women want. I was head over heels for that man. I truly thought nothing could change my mind.’

‘What happened?’

‘He felt the same way, about somebody else.’ Her tone is soft, almost sad, and my heart drops.

‘Oh, Mitzi. I’m so sorry. What did you do?’

‘I let him go, darling. Because that’s what you do when you truly want the best for someone and you’re not it.’

How could someone not choose her? She’s incredible. I want to hunt this Jesse down and shove him over, but only because he’s likely in his eighties or nineties and doing anything more than knocking him down would probably be wrong.

‘Do you regret it?’ I ask, zipping the side of the dress, then smoothing it down in front of the mirror at the back of my closet.

‘I dream of him, still, to this day. Sometimes I’ll read the letters he wrote me. But he died happy a few years back, and happy is all I ever wanted for him.’

Tragic.

‘What about you? Are you happy?’ I ask, now concerned she has regrets.

‘Dear girl, I’ve had eighty-something wonderful years.

A son I love. A granddaughter I adore. I’m as rich as can be, and I don’t mean by way of money – that part was a bonus.

Now, I get to watch you fall in love, and that makes me happier than you’ll ever know.

I’m alright with living vicariously through you. ’

Now I’m thinking back to the times Ash included her in this journey, and I understand why she was so joyful to go dancing and get flowers even though the man treating her was more interested in me.

She’s missed it, and I wish she wasn’t alone, but there’s not much I can do about that if she’s truly happy.

When I walk out of the closet, she gasps.

‘Beautiful, darling girl, like it was tailor-made for you. Asher won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.’

And I’m perfectly OK with that. I like his eyes on me.

‘You’re right,’ I say happily. ‘And I have the perfect shoes to go with it.’ I step back into my closet and come out with my favorite – barely worn – black rhinestone strappy heels.

‘Wonderful choice,’ Mitzi nods approvingly.

I twirl around in front of the mirror, feeling like a million bucks. Mitzi was right; this is the one. The way it hugs my curves and accentuates all the right places makes me feel radiant. And the slit reveals just enough to be alluring but not too much. This is it – the perfect dress.

‘Back in my day, a dress like that would have turned every head in the room,’ she reminisces, a wistfulness in her voice.

What will it be like when I can use that phrase – ‘back in my day?’ Will Ash still be in my life, reminiscing about this exact dress with me?

‘It’ll turn at least one,’ I reply.

Mitzi chuckles and stands up, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle near my hip.

‘You have your mother’s charm and your grandmother’s poise. You’ll be the belle of the ball.’

‘Do you want to come tonight?’ I ask spontaneously. ‘I’m sure Ash won’t mind.’

‘Oh, honey,’ she laughs. ‘I just started a Supernatural marathon, and those Winchester boys would miss me if I didn’t spend the evening with them. Or perhaps I’d miss them? I’m unsure. What I do know is this should be your night. Let that sweet man knock you off your feet.’

‘If he does any more, I’ll fall off a cliff.’

She chuckles. ‘He’ll catch you.’

He will. I know he will.

I can hardly contain my excitement at seeing his reaction to me in this dress. And I don’t have to wait long, as the doorbell rings just as I finish applying my favorite lipstick, Hermès Rose épicé.

‘I’ll get it so you can make a grand entrance,’ Mitzi suggests, leaving my room as quickly as an eighty-something woman can.

One last glance in the mirror, clutch in hand, and I head toward the living room. As I step into where he’s waiting, his jaw drops at the sight of me. For a moment, he’s speechless, taking in every detail.

‘Wow,’ he finally says, placing a hand on the back of his neck and giving me that same smoldering look from last night.

‘Holy wow. You look… incredible. Beyond incredible,’ he says.

‘You’re breathtaking – dazzling – radiant – enchanting – glowing.

I’m gonna have a hard time focusing on anything but you. ’

He hands me a small bouquet of bright red roses. I don’t know what it is, but I hope he keeps being this sweet forty years in, too.

‘Thank you,’ I say, looking him over. ‘And you aren’t wearing polyester and ruffles!’

He pulls at the lapels of his very debonair all-black suit – tailored to perfection, hugging his muscular form in all the right places. I have never seen this man look hotter, except when he’s wearing nothing. I feel like I’m going on a date with 007.

‘I went all out and purchased this since I now have someone to do fancy things with,’ he says, smoothing the jacket. ‘But let’s be real, you’re going to steal every show.’

‘You sweet, sweet, man,’ I say, my heart doing cartwheels in my chest at his reaction. ‘But no way,’ I say, placing my hand on his chest and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. ‘You’re so handsome, it’s melting my brain.’

He smiles wide, pressing his lips to my forehead.

‘I like that,’ he says. ‘Ready to help Aaron prove he’s not a complete ass?’

I shake my head. ‘I need to do one more thing…’ I say, nodding in Mitzi’s direction. I walk her way and hand her the bouquet.

‘No, darling, I couldn’t,’ she says, her eyes on me.

‘I insist. Jesse was an idiot not to choose you. I’d bet money he died dreaming of you too. And tomorrow, you can live vicariously through me because I’ll give you every detail.’

‘Thank you, Lucy.’ She smiles wide, lifting the bouquet to her nose. ‘Now, let me snap a picture,’ she says, avoiding the fact that her eyes are glistening with tears.

God, I love her so much. She’s the perfect woman to look up to for the rest of my life.

* * *

‘My God, what took you so long?’ Aaron asks, frantically cooking up a storm and not in the black tie attire he requested.

Until recently, I’ve never witnessed Aaron nervous. He’s usually so casual and free, but now, he’s sweating, entirely focused and visibly fearful.

‘Everything has to be perfect,’ he declares, his eyes scanning us up and down before giving a nod of approval.

‘Whoa, you guys really did talk. I think he like likes her,’ I say, glancing at Ash, who nods.

To my knowledge, not a single man on the planet has gone to this type of effort for Madi, so I know without a doubt this is going to be a night she’ll never forget. Maybe I prefer Ash over Aaron, but for her, he is perfect.

He grabs something from the counter and throws it in my direction.

Ash catches it in one hand before it smacks me in the face, considering I didn’t even get a heads-up.

‘It’s an apron. Wear it,’ he orders.

‘Over this?’ I gesture proudly to my dress.

‘Ask her nicer,’ Ash tosses the apron back at him, whacking him unexpectedly upside the head.

He stops stirring whatever he’s got in that bowl and looks at us with a forced smile.

‘Please could you wear this, so you’ll look like a waitress and not just the guest-of-honor’s friend?’

He tosses it back our way and Ash grabs it out of mid-air again. ‘That’s better,’ he says, leaning in close as he hands it to me. ‘I’ve always wanted to strip an apron off a woman.’

My heart races at his words as I eagerly tie on the apron like it’s the most valuable thing in the world. ‘Then obviously that’s happening later.’

He nods, shooting me a wink as if he approves.